Your guy doesn’t want a dozen roses.

He doesn’t want a heart balloon or a cookie boquet or a pajamagram for Valentines day.

So, what to get a guy for Valentines day?

The odds are about 50/50 that he would rather forget the event altogether.  But with that said that doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time together this Valentines day or that you can’t pick a romantic gift that he will appreciate.

Keep reading for ideas and leads on where else to get inspiration.

Best Valentines Gift for a Guy

If you think about it, it’s easy to see why some guys hate Valentines day.  As relationship experts like to point out the holiday has the feel of an ultimatum – Show me how much you love me… or else.

Ultimatums and romance don’t play nicely together.

As a guy who has weathered a few dozen Valentines days in the market and as a married man I have to say that what I really want is less pressure.  Yes I’m willing to play the game – but can it be something other than wine and chocolate and a candlelit dinner?

It’s one of my favorite gifts to talk about at DuckDuckGift, but picking an outing based on what he does on his own time or that he doesn’t get a chance to do because the two of you are busy is a great gift.  You make it either an extravagant affair or you can make it a cheap, but romantic, interlude.

Scheduled for the day before or the week after Valentines day he’ll be more relaxed and more able to focus on you without having to stage manage a cliche dinner-date that  he isn’t really into.

Valentines Day Ideas for Him

With that said, you can’t wrap a day – it’s fun to give gifts and they can be a source of special memories for the two of you.  Here are some of my favorites.

• The Art of Shaving - Take a daily chore and turn it into a daily ritual.  Little is manlier than shaving in a guys eyes.  Don’t mention that these are essentially beauty products.
• Echo Touch Gloves - Warm accessories are a classic gift for Valentines.  It is still February, after all.  These update the classic by allowing him to use his smartphone with the gloves still on.  Do mention that you expect him to pick up your calls one ring faster since he doesn’t have to shuck his gloves.
• Valentines Wine – A classic gift, if not particularly creative.  Most guys have a favorite wine or microbrew, and it just might help both of you forget the pressure to perform on Valentines day.